Best Nursing Schools in Virginia

Virginia is among the best states in the nation for nursing students in terms of high-quality education. At reasonable costs, it provides some of the most renowned nursing programs.

Roughly 69,000 RNs were employed in the state as of May 2022. While the typical wage for nurses who administer anesthesia, midwives, and practitioners ranges from $115,000 to $215,000, that of registered nurses is approximately $82,000.

Choosing the Best Nursing School

Applicants need to consider a few things before selecting one of Virginia's numerous nursing schools. These variables include the school's standing in recent years, its accreditation, and even its pass percentage on the NCLEX. Candidates will be able to create a list of colleges that offer the program and specialization they need, and then they can use the tuition fees of those colleges to narrow down their choices.

Candidates will be able to review the institution's NCLEX pass rate after this is made clear. One should ideally choose the colleges with the highest pass rate because the majority of these institutions have a pass rate of 90% or more. Prior to applying to the university, they want to ascertain whether the program is accredited by the CCNE or ACEN.

Cost of Studying Nursing in Virginia

The sort of program one wants to enroll in and the degree one wants to seek will determine how much a nursing program in Virginia will cost. While master's degrees in the field can cost significantly more, associate degree programs often have the lowest tuition rates. This is particularly true given that most students only enroll in enough courses to qualify for the NCLEX exam, making master's degrees in the field uncommon for applicants.

The amount of tuition that applicants must pay will also vary based on their place of residence– inside or outside the state. In public universities, in-state applicants typically pay less than out-of-state students. Every applicant to private schools will pay the same tuition.

10 Best Nursing Schools in Virginia

Institution	Location	In-state Fee	Out-of-state Fee	NCLEX Pass Rate
University of Virginia	Charlottesville	$21,000 annually	$59,000 annually	97.4$%
George Mason University	Fairfax	$10,000 annually	$35,000 annually	83.65%
Old Dominion University	Norfolk	$400 per credit hour	$1,100 per credit hour	95.4%
Marymount University	Arlington	$19,000 annually	$19,000 annually	92%
Virginia Commonwealth University	Richmond	$17,000 annually	39,000 annually	93%
Regent University	Virginia Beach	$400 per credit hour	$400 per credit hour	NA
Hampton University	Hampton	$26,000 annually	$26,000 annually	91.7%
Eastern Mennonite University	Harrisonburg	$21,000 annually	$21,000 annually	84.9%
University of Lynchburg	Lynchburg	$37,000 annually	$37,000 annually	82.3%
Radford University	Radford	$6,200 per semester	$13,000 per semester	88.6%

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a public research university recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has granted the university's nursing programs accreditation. In FY 2023, $3 million in active research grants and $3.10 million in scholarships were given to nursing students. In 2023â€"2024, the university allocated roughly 310 million for financial aid to students. The University's School of Nursing provides BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, DNP, CNL, RN-CNL, PhD, and certificate programs in nursing.

George Mason University

The largest public research university, George Mason University, provides more than 100 graduate-level credentials through ten schools and colleges, as well as 132 master's, doctorate, and professional programs. With $178 million in total research spending in FY22, it is a nationally ranked R1 research university. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)-accredited University's School of Nursing provides degrees in BS, MSN, DNP, PhD, Nursing Education Graduate Certificate, and Psychiatric Mental Nurse Practitioner Graduate Certificate.

Old Dominion University

The Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education have accredited Old Dominion University's nursing programs. The university is a public research institution recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Having been named an R1 Research Institution by Carnegie, it provides over 175 on-campus academic programs in addition to over 200 online. The nursing school provides certificate, MSN, DNP, and BSN programs in nursing.

Marymount University

Marymount is a private, comprehensive Catholic institution that is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). It offers 27 undergraduate majors, 75 minors, 16 master's degree programs, 4 dual degrees, 7 PhD programs, and 28 certificate programs. The average undergraduate financial aid package from the university is approximately $32,000. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited the institution's nursing programs. Of all the colleges in Virginia, Marymount features one of the best undergraduate nursing programs. The university provides nursing programs in BSN, ABSN, MSN, DNP, and Post Master's certificate.

Virginia Commonwealth University

One of only 64 public universities in the country to be designated by the Carnegie Foundation as a "R1 Doctoral University - Highest Research Activity" and to hold the esteemed "Community Engagement" designation, Virginia Commonwealth University is a public research institution that offers 200 academic degrees and certificates. The Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has granted it accreditation. funded research spending more than $460 million in FY 2023. Nursing bachelor's, PhD, and certificate programs are available through the university's School of Nursing.

Regent University

With accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, Regent University is a private Christian university that provides academic programs in over 150 subject areas. In 2020â€"21, the university awarded institutional scholarships and grants totaling around $20 million. The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education has accredited Regent University's RN to B.S. in Nursing and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs. Online Rn-BSN, 2 MSN, 2 MSN in APRN, DNP, and 2 DNP in APRN programs are available from the University's School of Nursing.

Hampton University

Hampton University is a private, historically black research university with around 130 academic programs accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. The University's School of Nursing has been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the National League for Nursing, and other agencies. Traditional BSN, LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, and PhD nursing programs are all offered by the institution.

Eastern Mennonite University

With more than 50 academic programs offered, Eastern Mennonite University is a private liberal arts institution recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). In 2022â€"2023 EMU gave almost $23 million in funding; all 2019 nursing graduates found employment within six months of graduation. The university offers BSN, Traditional second degree, Accelerated second degree, LPN-BSN, RN-BSN, MSN, DNP, and graduate certificate programs in nursing. The programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

University of Lynchburg

The University of Lynchburg is a private university recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) and affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 52 undergraduate majors, 67 minors, 16 pre-professional programs, 3 doctorate degrees, and 14 master's programs are available at the university. The Virginia Board of Nursing and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) have accredited the institution's nursing programs. At the university, financial aid packages typically total approximately $36,000. Only BSNs, complete with a simulation lab, are offered by the university.

Radford University

One of the eight public colleges in the state that awards doctorates, Radford University is recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) as a public university. Roughly 135 academic programs are available. The range of scholarship payments for residents of Virginia is $2,500 to $4,000. The award amounts for students from outside the state vary from $7,000 to $10,000. Nursing BSN, MSN, DNP, and post-masters certificate programs offered by the university's College of Nursing